I’m a Pear ? the sequel part 2 !

Whiff the cake is baked and cooling and looks lovely?

I love this thread, it’s one of the only ones where I feel genuinely welcomed. Like many of I love reading too, I read anything and everything within reason (I’ve never read a western!). I’m a keen knitter and my DGS loves wearing the picture jumpers I knit for him, so that keeps my fingers out of the chocolate box! I love cooking and baking, I seem to be making lots of banana cake at the moment (I’m not keen on it, so it’s easy to say no - if it was lemon drizzle it would be a problem) I love dried fruit so might give your cake a go Whiff. Just the thing with a chunk of good cheese ?

Thankyou Whiff,I look forward to making it?

Silverlining that was my late husband's favourite cake. If resisting things was easy we would all be a 10/12. That's what is great about this thread. We are all shapes ,sizes and ages. But we are all here for eachother. Not just for weight loss but any thing we want to talk about. Hope you stay with us.

Dorset just use the same size mug for the ingredients. The mug I used was 9cm dia x 9.5cm tall. Filled it with water 344ml. It's a very old recipe and it just said it works just with any mug as long as it's the same one of each of the ingredients. The only thing weighed was the fruit. It's a recipe my mom used from when I a child. 62 now. So you see how old it is but it works every time. Just need to leave it for a day before cutting. In fact if you can resist it 2 days its better. It gets sticky due to the reaction with the fruit and sugar.

Thanks fourormore and hello all. I am not a great cook or cake maker but I am very good at eating the results. That’s my trouble. I have a battenburg waiting for my attention but once it’s opened it doesn’t stand a chance. Resistance is low and I need to focus.

That looks lovely Whiff. Happily I have all the ingredients ?. Do you have a rough idea of weights,or how many mls in the mug as all mine vary in size?

To make up for my wicked chocolate pye. I made this today. It's diet friendly. 8oz dried fruit, half mug of tea. Soak the fruit in the tea over night. Half mug of light or dark brown sugar, mug of sr flour and 1 egg. Just mix together. Line a 1lb loaf tin. Oven temp 160 for 50-60 mins. Leave a day before cutting. Delicious with low fat spread.

Cocopops and Shirleyw I'm envious of anyone who can sew,I can do the essentials but not my greatest skill. Interestingly my mother was a skilled seamstress, it bypassed me but my eldest daughter is self taught and very skilled and makes cushions and curtains etc!
I do enjoy baking. The last thing I made was my Christmas cake. I'm tempted at moment to make flapjack or possibly a bakewell tart. Hmmm a sugar free,calorie free,fat free one of course?

I am another who loves cooking. I enjoy baking once a week for the family who live nearby.
I've knitted umpteen sweaters, hats, socks but have decided to stop knitting altogether when I've finished the current sweater for my GS.
I will try and finish an Elizabeth Bradley tapestry which I started years ago!
I love dressmaking, reading and watercolour painting.
I have too many unfinished projects lying around so my New Year's Resolution is to finish them all and then to concentrate more on painting. Famous last words perhaps!

Yes, I think this is a lovely little thread.
My hobbies/interests ......I've been knitting and sewing for years. I've always made my own curtains/soft furnishings but since the Sewing Bee I've made a few clothes for myself. The fabric and wool shop has done well out of me during the lockdowns lol...
Love cooking and have far too many cook books.
....Am also an animal lover.

Thankyou Whiff. Apparently it was found routinely and I dont think shes had any major problems or symptoms. Of course we did what everyone does and googled it?. Even then the odds are high it's not serious. I dont think the covid situation is helping. In normal times it would be easier to get hold of Dr who may well be able to put mind at rest. Initially she felt that fact dont want to see her until 28th was a good sign,then she wondered if it was more to do with current pressure on hospitals ?. She quoted my mum who always says worrying doesnt change anything which is true. Unfortunately at the moment I think we are just that little bit less resilient. Still fingers and just about everything else crossed!

Dorset try not to worry know that's not easy. Don't know if this will help. But when I was 38 found cyst on my left ovary had 2l of fluid in it. Right ovary covered in little ones. Had total hysterectomy. The histology on the cysts showed they where all benign. A friend had a cyst in her breast 2 years ago that was benign.
I know how worried you are but hopes that shows cysts usually are benign.

Trouble is our minds always think the worse. No matter how old our children get we want to protect them. And make everything better.

Oh dear just as feeling a bit more upbeat had a message off eldest daughter. She had a kidney scan before Christmas and got results and has a cyst on her kidney. Shes booked in for follow up at hospital on 28jan but unable to get appointment to speak to Dr about it. Obviously both googled and could be harmless but could be more serious such as cancer. Odds are probably in ger favour but both worried, although trying not to.

I think we are very lucky to have this thread Whiff. I was probably on site for a couple of years before I posted and I will often add the odd comment. I've always been lucky in that I have never had any negative comments. I have seen some threads that go beyond heated debate and are very unpleasant. There does seem to be a small group that almost swoop on a thread and belittle others,nasty?.
Still on to brighter things! A few years ago I decided to be more creative! It started with one of those monthly magazines Knit and Stitch. It was an expensive but fun way of increasing skills. The idea was you created a throw and cushions. They did keep extending it though. I completed my throw but rather than do cushions etc had enough wool to do one for my eldest daughter and a mini one for my grandson-at his request! He thinks knitting is a super power. I'm a medium level knitter,I have found You Tube excellent to increase skills.
I also enjoy card making ,I have a good stock of materials built up over years which has come in handy during lockdown if couldnt get to shops!
I have got a felting kit in my front bedroom which is also my craft room but havent got round to starting yet!
Reading has always been a major joy,we are a family of book lovers. I am surrounded by books. Sadly since last March I have barely read anything. I finished a short thriller on my kindle and started another but that's been it. It's an issue I've discovered other people have experienced but my resolution is to allocate time daily to read!
My latest discovery at the end of last year was diamond or crystal art. For those who havent come across it it's like painting by numbers only using smaller crystals on a sticky surface. I've made cards,bookmarks and tree decorations as gifts. Its probably one of the most relaxing activities I have ever done!
Happy crafting/activities everyone ?

I weighed myself Christmas Day morning and at this morning’s weigh in there was a difference of 4lbs up. I think I’m lucky to have got away with that. So on we go all trying to be new year losers. Good luck all with whatever method you find best for yourselves.
I like crafting type things Whiff. After I joined a class I found there is lots to learn and crafts I’ve never heard of.

Morning All.

A day of reckoning for me. I realise that I need to take myself in hand and rethink my daily eating. It’s so easy to just eat that little bit more and it to become the norm.

I too like reading Whiff and since I got a Kindle I have upped my game and read far more.

I have taken up Qigong (similar to Thai Chi) and do a weekly lesson on Zoom. I also am learning Spanish online for my own satisfaction. Tomorrow I am giving a short talk on my WI Zoom whereby I say why the Prologue to the 1961 Musical Westside Story means so much to me and then they will play the extract.

Good to have your company girls. ?

Why I love this thread is no matter what is going on in our lives we can talk about and no one judges or has a go a us. I used to love going on one of the house and home threads. It was my salvation when my second buyer pulled out on me. But the woman who started it left after harassment from someone on another thread . It wasn't the same but I continued to contribute. Then I went on a Coronavirus thread about testing and got criticised because I had a test without symptoms. They started mass testing in Liverpool for people with and without symptoms. It was such a success it was rolled out across the rest of Merseyside. So I got tested. People say it shows if you have a cold it doesn't as I had a cold when tested. Had the result next day via email. I don't understand why people make such a fuss over having it. Ok it's not comfortable but 10 secs wiping each tonsil and 10 secs up 1 nostril it's not hard. It was well run. I was talked through how to do it. Had a mirror so I could see what I was doing.

This person said I was wasting resources. So as I knew her from house and home thread answered via PM she replied still saying the same thing in PM. So I replied on thread. This from someone who I think should not be taking some of the chances she has over the last year due to her age and health. So now I only PM a few I feel friendly with and feel I can help in some small way on that thread.

I do contribute to other threads if I have something to say. I am a mad cross stitcher. Only been doing 4 years but I needed something to relax me as I was having a very stressful time looking after my mom. I love reading and read everyday have since I was a child. So I plucked up the courage and posted picture of some of my work on the arts and crafts forum under cross stitching. Had some lovely comments. But feel in awe of some of the work . Some people are so talented their work looks like paintings and not just little crosses. I think it helps my fingers stay flexible.

What hobbies do you enjoy? It would be lovely to hear what you find absorbing and relaxing. As we all need something now our everyday lives are so different.

Good morning all?. I must admit Cocopops I'm normally a thriller/horror fan,always have been. That said there have been some unexpected delights recently. I found myself watching Tea with Mussolini for the first time. What an absolute delight! I also enjoyed a festive edition of the 1970s comedy Butterflies, such a lovely programme. Yesterday as I was clearing away the the Christmas decorations I was happily distracted by The Adam's Family and Dirty Dancing,all good fun and I didnt even get around to defrosting a slice of Christmas cake!
Have a good week everyone ?

Dorset Good thinking. I must re-watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I don't know about the rest of you but sometimes the day seems awfully long when I can't chat with family or friends over a coffee or a meal in spite of having things to do. A bit of humour like Charlie and the Choc Factory helps and another funny one and really well done is a new Peter Rabbit (Netflix).
I braved the scales today and have gained 1.6 lbs.
Like Whiff For years I've had a nut roast for Christmas Rose Elliott's recipe "wine nut pate" wrapped in puff pastry and this Christmas was no exception! I also downed a bottle of wine, a few G'n'Ts, cheeses and a box of chocolates and
felt all the better for it!
Onward and downward ladies.

Thankyou fourormore. Oddly enough the being in Tier 4 doesnt really bother me as I was just as cautious in tier 2!
I'm more concerned about my daughters. My eldest is in Surrey with husband and grandchilderen. The whole school situation is concerning. Johnson was saying earlier it's safe. I read that as it isnt and expect there will be a U turn by end of week.! My youngest daughter has just text me to day shes been told by NHS App to isolate as been in contact with someone who had tested positive. She works in a care home so is tested weekly and they have to have rapid test before shift so fingers crossed she be ok. Confusingly shes isolating but her boyfriend with whom she lives and who works in same home can go in! Fingers crossed they will all be ok as this new strain a bit of a game changer.
I will be fine,feel in a better frame of mind than recently. I will take down my tree and watch something interesting. I may even defrost a piece of Christmas cake?

Hang on in there Dorset - you said the same as me in different words!
Sadly, many of our locals became complacent when we were in Tier Two - then expressed horror when we were put up to Tier Three! Honestly what do they expect!!!
It must be horrible in Tier Four so huge hugs to you! I have other relatives in Tier Four areas and it's horrible for you all.
to you too!

How lovely to have Silverlining back! Stay with us you've done so well!
Well done Shirley we are all with you!
Join the club Sarahmob but remember we need to accept that we will put on - we all need to let our hair down sometimes!
We still have quite a few naughties left as, due to going up a tier, we had no visitors!
Whiff fancy bottling out I don't blame you (I very nearly did!!!) but you hit the nail on the head - we KNOW full well what we have done - there isn't much to smile about at the moment so we need to be kind to ourselves and if that means a few extra pounds them so be it! I have put on a couple of pounds too so you are not alone and you haven't let yourself down - you are human like the rest of us!
I am looking towards February to start afresh - I will still weigh every Sunday morning (I believe in miracles ) but I know there is no point worrying at the moment as I can never waste food and our elusive friend (Will Power) isn't around at the moment!
Stick with us everyone we will get there!

Good morning all ?. Fourormore I had seen the recent Charlie and the Chocolate Factory before but watched again. I was surprised at how chilling it was. Roald Dahl is dark,but I prefer the Gene Wilder one,I always had a soft spot for Gene Wilder! Yes,we are in Tier 4 but I've acted as though I am throughout so dont notice the difference ?.
Cocopops your horse story made me giggle!
Whiff I totally see where you are coming from and I dont think you are moaning needlessly. In the past I,and am sure many others,have found that when I'm following a diet successfully it has a tremendous positive affect mentally. I may not be happy with my weight but I'm actively working on it. Christmas is always the same,weeks of high calorie food being advertised and everyone being encouraged to indulge themselves. From January the first it goes into reverse! I must admit I may have just missed it but the stream of diet articles and ads for diet clubs seems quite this year.
Of course being a healthy weight is important,probably now more than ever. That said I know I personally and many others have struggled since Christmas to stay positive. Its grim at the moment and I think many are taking the opportunity to try and make the days a little brighter or comforting. Some might hit the gin bottle others reach for cheese and crusty bread. I occasionally am on a diabetic forum and people there are craving carbs and comfort foods.
I briefly got on the scales mid week in the afternoon and had put on 5lb. Whether that's more or less now I dont know.
I have healthy meals in freezer which dont often appeal,I have means to make different ones but cant be bothered! I've sort of been going between snacking and not feeling hungry at all. A friend gave me a box of galaxy truffles, I had one but didnt really like. I intended to give daughter but somehow ate them all anyway?.
Like quite a few people the ability to count my blessings over the past week didnt seem to work,and indeed I felt guilty about that as so many people are going through such terrible things.
Yesterday I broke the habit of a life time and started taking down the Christmas decorations before 12th Night. Whether it was the change of activity or just a recognition that however we made the most of the season I'm rather glad its over!
I think we are all familiar with sometimes needing to be at right point to tackle an eating plan. I know I need to get a grasp of it,but I will be gentle with myself. I hope you all are too?

Well I couldn't face the scales this morning. A dear friend brought me a hotel Chocolat box of chocs. 8 varieties 6 in each pack. I have no stop when it comes to chocolate. Sad to say I eat the lot last week. Just worked out the calories they average out at 70 cals each total 3,360 in all. That onto of my usual allowance of 1200 a day. Also I finished off the biscuits and bit of cheese I had. Dread to think what that little lot added up to. So disappointed in myself. I know full well my weaknesses . Hence I don't buy the foods I can't control normally . Back to sticking to my allowance starting today. Plus making sure I exercise daily. I am annoyed at myself. Should have given them to my daughter or thrown them away. Going to tell my friend never to send me food items especially chocolate ever again. She is trying to lose weight so made sure to send non edible presents.
Sorry for the moan but I have let myself down. Hate that .

Shouldn't moan as some of you are dealing with losing loved ones.

Stay safe everyone.